DISCUSSION TOPIC 1 - Destination Development

These "Discussion Topics" have been written to begin healthy, productive discussion and debate on a variety of topics. There are designed to encourage tourists, private sector, government, students, anyone to contribute to this blog.

The training that is being done in the village of Taphin is in response to the data gathered in the needs assessment as well as numerous discussions with locals, tourists, private and public sector. It has been designed to address both the verbalized needs of the locals the problem of street-sellers (which has been the reason for some tour companies to stop bringing tourists to Taphin).

Much of the training has focused on entrepreneurship with the goal of seeing some locals starting their own small businesses in the Taphin's town centre. This could eventually see the development of a number of small shops, restaurants, cafes, etc. owned and run by the Red Dao along the tourists 'strip'. Many of the Vietnamese shops that have been rented from the Red Dao may be replaced and new shops may also be built.

The question: How will the tourist interpret the destination's development? As the economy of the village changes within the town centre, how will it impact local life? Will it? If the street-sellers are replaced with small tourist shops, private sector, how will you support the peoples of Taphin's efforts?